Programs
Professional Development Workshops
The Bill Anderson Fund Professional Development Workshops serve as a core component of the training program BAF Fellows. These workshops are typically hosted by university partners and typically feature a combination of sessions focused on region-specific research; networking activities; and professional development training. Presenters at workshop sessions include faculty members, postdocs, current students, and community partners.
Dedicated BAF spring and fall workshops include sessions that focus on benchmarks that support successful matriculation through doctoral programs and planning for post-graduate careers. Presentations by panels representing a diverse array of professionals provide guidance on such topics as:
- Comprehensive exams preparation
- Preparing a dissertation
- Writing effective grant proposals
- Developing a research agenda
- Publishing academic and gray literature
- Conducting community-engaged research
- Developing a career plan
- Giving effective presentations
Each July, Fellows participate in the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop organized by the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. This event provides Fellows with opportunities to network with many of the great leaders in disaster management and scholarship. It also provides a platform for Fellows to present their work to a broad professional audience through dedicated Lightning Talks sessions.
These workshops provide essential bonding and educational opportunities in which students can broaden their perspectives, learn of new and emerging research, assess their own progress and intellectual growth within the field, and identify potential employers or post‐doctoral mentors. Fellows have opportunities to present their research and practice key skills. Some workshop sessions are student-led, providing an opportunity for Fellows to fine-tune and demonstrate their organizing, planning and research skills.
Mentor Program
Mentoring is an essential component of the BAF’s approach to student empowerment.
The BAF Mentor Program carries on Bill’s strategy for preparing the next generation of professionals by connecting Fellows with esteemed actors in the hazards community. This program takes a personalized approach designed to help each student maximize their potential and expand their professional network.
Webinar Program
The Student Council Programming Committee hosts a series of three webinars per year to explore topics of interest identified by current BAF Fellows. The Programming Committee is responsible for project planning and execution, suggestions for topics, speakers and event dates are open to all Fellows. Webinar planning helps committee members hone valuable skills related to project planning and management, while enabling them to communicate with top scholars and professionals. The series features hazards and disaster researchers, practitioners, and occasionally features speakers from outside the disaster arena. Some webinars are open to the public.
Collaborative Communities Initiative
The Collaborative Communities Initiative (CCI) is a planned program to enable Fellows to engage in applied research that supports the needs of marginalized communities. While currently in the pilot stage, the CCI aims to expand into a comprehensive program that provides training and experience in community-driven research and technical assistance through projects that leverage Fellows’ skills and subject matter expertise in disaster risk reduction.